There is no perfect parenting method, just as there is no perfect parent and no perfect child.
It’s easy to fall into a constant spiral of self-judgment and worry about not being enough or not doing enough for our kids. How about reminding ourselves that we do our best with the resources we have.
I like the concept of quality over quantity. If you have a limited amount of time to spend with your children or loved ones, then, make that time special and be fully present. Be the listening ear, ask questions, look them in the eyes and show your emotions. There are plenty of ways we can strengthen our bond with our kids, but one thing I realized is that the quality of our awareness often determines the quality of our relationship. Remember that saying, “kids don’t listen to what you say, they watch what you do”? We, parents, caregivers, and teachers are their primary source of reference and inspiration. They look up to us for advice and guidance. If we don’t make ourselves available, they will feel left out and rejected.
We can make excuses, like “I’m too busy”, “I have to cook” or, “I have work to finish off”, but then, are we being honest with what's really important? By spreading our efforts so thin in other parts of our lives, we find ourselves compromising our relationship with our children, which can, in turn, impact their happiness.
Time is our most precious resource. It’s not something we can buy, but it’s something we can manage. Time has a wonderful way of reminding us what really matters. It’s the best gift we can give to the people we love.
Aren’t we all guilty of hiding in a room (often our bathroom, right?) and surf the Internet
while we could play hide and seek, tag or other daunting role play games. I hear you, pretending to be a crocodile or a monster for half an hour isn’t always relaxing. If that’s something you are not comfortable with, then sit down with your child and play a card game, draw a unicorn or involve them in your cooking routine.
Reading with your child is another wonderful way to connect with them and enter their imaginary world. It also helps your child's brain, social and communication skills develop. Reading broadens our imagination by stimulating the right side of our brain. It literally opens our minds to new possibilities and new ideas helping us experience and analyze the world through others' lives. Isn’t that the simplest, yet, the coolest experience we can share with our kids?
Books provide us with a chance to redeem ourselves as loving parents and an opportunity to nurture confidence and self-esteem in our children.
The stories that we tell ourselves and our children have a profound impact on their wellbeing and confidence and so does the quality time that we spend with them.
Ritu Ghatourey said it so well, “the best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.”
Until next time, keep reading!
@bardellibooks 2019